Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-01-26

pose something"
The phrase propose something
went round the table, and each one OF
the members looked anxiously at Mr..
Meiggs.
The frstpart of the proposition, !"
said Meiggs, lis to telegraph to Chica-
go for an expert accountant and ask
him to bring down as many assistants
rs he requires, so that we may speedily
know our position. Are there any OBJ.
jections to that proposalP"
Mr.. Meiggs glanced up and down the
table.
There were no objections.
"My next proposal is this: Telegraph
TO Chicago for one of the best bank de-
tectives in the city and place the case
in his hands. A train leaves Chicago
at one o'clock. 1t is now shortly after
eleven. II you commission me to write
the dispatches 1 will guarantee to have
both on that train and we can meet
here at three o'clock TO consult. In the
meantime say nothing at all about the
affair, and after consulting with the de-
tective, If you think it best to put the
| announcement suggested by Mr.. Bonus
in the papers there's ample time TO do
it, .re n,r
This was unanimously agreed to and
at three o'clock the board of directors
again met. The interview with the
accountant was brief. He was given
charge of the books and cautioned not
a little to keep silence, caution which
he assured the gentlemen was quite un-
necessary. Mr.. Meiggs had met the
detective at the station and they had
been in consultation up to the time OF
the meeting of the board.
Gentlemen, said the detective,
who looked like prosperous CONNER
cial traveller, sis your bank in such q
state that it can stand q runp'
Bonus looked rather aghast at the
proposition, but he said that he thought
it was. Money had been rather drug
on the market for some time past.
The directors were all solid men, the
amount Of liabilities was not large. so
the CONCLUSION was that if necessary
the bahk could stand a run.
Then, gentlemen, propose" said
the detective, "that we tell the truth
l propose that we announce in the
papers that Brooks has absconded, and
that an accountant is now engaged in
finding the amount Of his defalca-
ton"
II don't like to agree to that" fall
tered Mr.. Bonus,
Very well;n,, said the detective, TAX
ing out his watch, 81 have five minutes
yet before | must leave to take the
Chicago train. You have that time to
make up your mind. The case must
be entirely in my hands, and you must
do exactly as | say or you must put the
matter in the care of some one else"
'But there will be a rum" said Mr..
Bonus. Would it not be better to say
the amount of the defalcation is very
smallp"
mo, SIR answered the detective,
1--WE don't know what the amount is.
1t may be very large. My motto is to
Tell the truth. ;"
The board of directors seemed rather
astonished to think such motto was
part of a detectives equipment, and
they consulted in whispers together.
There will certainly be run if we
give it out in that way"
"You say you are able to stand it. "
suggested the detective CHANGING down
at his watch.
Eyes, but"
'Just one minute more" said the
detective.
There was half minutes consulta-
ton then Mr.. Bonus said with sigh:
1--WE leave the case entirely in your
hands. understand that Mr.. Meiggs
is satisfied as TO your ability to manage
it."
Perfectly" said Meiggs, speaking
for the first time.
The sensation of next days papers
was the absconding of the popular Mr..
Brooks, of the Stability Bank. The
ticket agent was interviewed, the hotel
clerk was interviewed. Saunders was
interviewed and gave graphic account
OF his meeting with Brooks in Chicago,
and added much about his ghastly,
conscience-stricken face which he had
not mentioned to Mr.. Bonus; Bonus
was interviewed, but said nothing; and
the directors were interviewed and said
viewed and was loquacious and the ac-
countant was interviewed, but gave no
~.
Next day there was q run on the
bank, but all claims were promptly
paid and things seemed to be going on
so much as usual that before the second
day it died out and the bank resumed
its former appearance. There was a
of the directors few days af-
All of the directors were
present, with Mr.. Bonus in the chair.
The detective was seated near win
dow, the accountant stood with some
balance sheets in his hand at the lower
end of the table.
"Gentlemen," he said, looking at his
papers, there is deficiency Of $685.
$40. 49,"
A look of horror went round the
board. The president leaned back in
his chair with n face as white as ashes.
Meiggs had frown on his brow and
drummed on the table with his tiugers,
but he resisted the temptation of say
ing: IL told you so"
"The stealing, resumed the account
ant, 'has been going on for some time
and 1t has been most ingeniously COW
cred up. The books apparently bal
ance perfectly, and it was only by dis
covering this paper of figures which
found in Brooks private drawer that
got clue TO the defalcations.
II suppose" said Mr.. Meiggs, that
we have no further need of Mr.. Ruler;
he has done the work in n very salts
factory manner"
So Mr.. Ruler departed for Chicago
and the detective took his place at the
table.
Gentlemen he began, al propose
to announce in to-morrow's papers
that the books have been examined by
experts from Chicago and that all is
perfectly straight. The theory that
will be given OF the absconding will be
that through overwork Mr.. Brooks
has become deranged, and | think
that we NAV wind LID with q